Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognize the State of Palestine

Spain, Ireland and Norway say they are seeking to speed up efforts to secure a ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza. The three countries say they hope their decision will spur other European Union countries to follow suit.

“It is the only way to move forward with what everyone recognizes as the only viable solution to achieve a peaceful future, a Palestinian state living side by side with the state of Israel in peace and security,” said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

He said Spain was recognizing a unified Palestinian state, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, under the Palestinian National Authority with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said the move meant 146 of the 193 UN member states now recognised a Palestinian state.

The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited executive power in the West Bank under Israeli military occupation, welcomed the decision. Mr Sanchez said Madrid would not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders unless agreed by both sides.

Ireland's foreign ministry said last week it would upgrade its representative office in Ramallah in the West Bank to an embassy, appoint an ambassador there and upgrade the status of the Palestinian mission in Ireland to an embassy.

Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognize the state of Palestine picture 2 — Map showing the recognition of the State of Palestine. Black shows the countries that have not recognized it, red shows recognition and blue shows the three countries that have just recognized it (Ireland, Norway and Spain). Graphic photo: Jaimee Haddad / L'Orient Today

Israel has repeatedly condemned the decision, saying it favors Hamas. “Sanchez, when you… recognized a Palestinian state, you were complicit in inciting genocide against the Jewish people and war crimes,” Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on X on Tuesday.

Israel has also recalled its ambassadors in Madrid, Oslo and Dublin, and summoned the ambassadors of the three countries to watch videos showing Israelis being held hostage by Hamas gunmen.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Sanchez sought to ease tensions by condemning Hamas and calling for the hostages to be released. “It is not a decision we have taken against anyone, certainly not against Israel,” Sanchez said. “We want to have the best possible relationship.”

Of the 27 members of the European Union, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Cyprus, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria have recognized a Palestinian state. Slovenia is expected to approve recognition on Thursday and Malta has said it may follow suit.

Britain and Australia have said they are also considering recognition, but France has said now is not the time. Germany and the United States, Israel's biggest allies, have stressed that a two-state solution can only be achieved through dialogue. Denmark's parliament voted down a bill on Tuesday that would recognize a Palestinian state.

Huy Hoang (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tay-ban-nha-ch-ireland-va-na-uy-chinh-thuc-cong-nhan-nha-nuoc-palestine-post297250.html